News Releases

March, 2003
West Georgia Health System divisions awarded accreditation from Joint Commission

West Georgia Medical Center, West Georgia Home Care and West Georgia Hospice/Hospice LaGrange have achieved accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations as a result of its demonstrated compliance with facilities had demonstrated compliance with the Joint Commission’s nationally recognized health care standards.

Founded in 1951, the Joint Commission is dedicated to improving the safety and quality of the nation’s health care through voluntary accreditation. The Joint Commission’s on-site survey of the three WGHS divisions occurred in February.

Above all, the national standards are intended to stimulate continuous, systematic and organization-wide improvement in an organization’s performance and the outcomes of care,” says Russell P. Massaro, M.D., executive vice president JCAHO Accreditation Operations. “The community should be proud that West Georgia Health System is focusing on the most challenging goal – to continuously raise quality and safety to higher levels.
Health System President/CEO Jerry Fulks says Joint Commission accreditation shows that “we are making quality a top priority. The accreditation process has strengthened our ongoing efforts to improve care for our patients. We view obtaining Joint Commission accreditation as another step toward excellence,”

Fulks notes that “all of our employees play a vital role in meeting these standards. Providing high quality care is a team effort.”